WINTER is on its way and that means households will be looking at ways to keep costs down as much as they can.
Dropping temperatures and stubbornly high costs mean millions of households are trying to keep warm without bursting the bank.
Appliances like heated airers could make a big difference to your bills.
They're cheaper than using a tumble dryer, according to experts – which is why they are becoming more popular with shoppers.
Over recent months, shoppers have scrambled to buy bargain airers from places like Lidl and Aldi.
But how much does it cost to run one, and how does it compare to a tumble dryer?
We've worked out the costs so you can decide if it's the best option for you and how much to budget for with energy bills.
What is a heated airer?
Heated clothes airers are like traditional ones, but you plug them in.
The bars of the dryer heat up, shortening the time it takes to dry the clothes hanging on it.
You can buy covers for some as well, which speeds up the time it takes to dry your clothes.
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They're popular during the colder months as it means households won't need to put the heating on just to try clothes.
They're also an alternative to tumble dryers which can cost a lot to buy and then run.
How much does it cost to run a heated airer?
The cost of running a heated airer will depend on a myriad of things.
You'll need to consider the specifics of the item such as the wattage, how much you use it and then how much energy you use in general.
But usually the higher the wattage, the more expensive it could be to run.
The cost is also based on the current price cap, which fell to £2,074 to £1,923 on October 1.
In case you don't know it by now, this is the equation you need to work out how much a device is costing you to run:
Cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence).
You can also use a appliance cost calculator online which should give you a good indication of how much it'll cost you.
You can do it on other appliances too.
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?
It's worth comparing how much it costs to run a tumble dryer as well.
Like with a heated airer, the price of running a tumble dryer depends on what type of machine you buy.
The average tumble dryer uses 2,500w so you can work out how much it'll cost from there.
How you can reduce your bill
There are a number of ways you can reduce your bills for drying clothes.
The most obvious way to save money is to hang them out instead of using a tumble dryer.
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It won't cost you a penny, but with temperatures dipping as autumn hits, keep in mind that getting your load dry could take longer.
You could also save money on washing your clothes too by reducing the temperature you wash them at.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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